The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-11-03
LETTER FROM THE FAR WEST.
A Vance County Boy Writes Intelli-
gently and Entertaining;y About His
Trip Across the Continent.
Los ANGELES, CAL, !

LID
empire" according to the language of the
/ poet, has been taking its way Westward"
with an increasing current, so that to-day
We find its effects very marked among the
Eastern and Middle States of this grand
old Union, and has added greatly to the
population of the Western division. Very
| speedily, and almost unexpectedly, | dis
covered myself drifting with this current,
and now am resting on the " cStern border
lands of the Continent.
| In order that may fulfil my promise to
| MANY friends to" write them description
leave to insert brief sketch of some points
of interest 10y the way, in the columns of
your paper.
Without crossing this immense province,
| il is impossible for one to even imagine the
vastneSs of territory, variety of scenery and
the sublime works of Nature and Natures
God included in the name United States"
When We once traverse the region from the
Atlantic on the East to the Pacific on the
West, and behold the fertile valleys. great
plains, ragged mountains and mountain
gorges, snow-clad peaks above and CUR
Cling streams below, extensive prairies,
barren deserts, forest lands and inHumera-
hle streams of wateFs, when We experience
the varied climes, the sweets and hItters,
and witness the great display and ahund-
ance of the vegetable and mineral king
/ domS, as we'll as the different species of
} animal life, and when we catch Il glimpse
of the industry, intellect, cultivation, and
skilled architecture of her citizens, and
her progress, we can then begin to realize
the value and Importance of so grand a
Union We can no longer wonder why the
enthusiast so persiStently exclaimed " llur-
rah for the United States = And though
placed in drunken state, in grave yard,
with skeletons scattered around. arose.
looked around, and exultantly exclaimed,
"Hurrah for the United States first man
on the ground !"
On the night of Oct 6, ! left Baltimore
for the far West and my attention was soon
drawn to a good-by scene on the cars-a
gallant, who. having seated his lady love,
affectionately embraced her and whispered
Then you'll remember me- Only a
: look and smile was her response, but it
. seemed sufficient. In the Western portion
of Maryland l noticed many interesting
g sights one, the extensive manufacture OF
tar, carried on by workers who bear their
lights on their caps. The scenery of this
section bordering on the Virginia line Is
very delightful and, as we pass along
y through the Northern part of West Eir-
r ginia, we witness many attractive geolog.
ical veins of smooth parallel strata OF
stone of various size and thickness. All
e the strata appear to be parallel, so that
: their process of formation must not have
q been Interrupted by any upheavels.
The mountain peaks, as we pass along
u the Monongallela river, are very pIctur
4 ley below. The trees are all clothed il
:. the robe of the season, and at many point:
" are quite varied in color and fascinating t,
the eye of the poet or painter. AS We
travel Westward, the country presents q
" more barren aspect, and customs some
, what different. We saw some conveyin!
wood up steep hills on sleighs as substi
n tutes for wagons, although the season O
4 snow had not yet reached them.
The towns along are small and the coun
| of Rnt 70 xl,hp
'. we cross the Ohio river, there is marked
l. Improvement. This is the largest place w
=. pass since leaving WaShingtOn-about 100
~ inhabitants, and situated in the Ohio valley
y Some portions of oh dG bear striking re
~ my Maryland" Original growth. appa
- rently, is rare and houses are neatly cor
ID structed. We travel for long distance j
sight of the old National Turnpike road
which runs from above Indiana direct t
the capitol building in Washington, and
10 said to be the oldest and longest road j
" America Ohio, beyond Newark, appear
lg to he level and under high state Of cult
walton. Mansfield is beautiful little cit
with a population OF about 5000 inhab
e. came to South Chicago, Ill, which, L al
!, told, is the only summer resort in this SEE
- ton But we pass hastily through, wit
er only glimpse at it, and soon are draw
to up in the great city of Chicago. Here W
m remain udy anu hlSilt W ste ouuio VI vi
sights and wonders of this Great LAX
City" We are at once impressed with tn
enterprise and push Of the citizens, an
of the unusually large handsome building
70 that universally prevail. The places {
interest are numerous, but mention on
es one or two. 1t is indeed magnificent an
nd progressive city. / was pleased in IL
on evening to find so much interest manifesto
by the young men in the Y. NJ. &. A.
was truly an effective occasion to hear Go
praised and magnitied among the evils an
I'M worldly pursuits of so important cit
-. and from the lips of so many who teStife
io' to the saving power of Christ and com
re, dence in His holy name. On Sunday morl
OIL ing | attended the Methodist church, an
ol- listened to an instructive discourse by u
Society. The choir rendered excellel
music, after which DIR. Hartzell eloquent
az and ably addressed us from Thes., ! cha
80, and 6 ", in which he clearly revealed al
Jul substantiated the truth as taught in Il
En- word of God, utterly ignoring the faith
tie, some, that "nothing is true until we ST
~ it The scientists tao simply meal
'o' that he has gone down deep enough to or
a little cord of Gods truth, and then it go
on disseminating and asserting itself
700 When we have found the truth, we ha'
w simply touched God" and the truth ";
up as real and powerful before our existen'
Lrp as it is now" He said that truth is eN
dent from three sources Intuition, ReasC
and Revelation, and effectively eXpOunde
t,,, But this is the hour of my departure, 50
~ hasten from church and am soon on IL
iii journey again..
lar As we pass through Illinois, we find it
'"- be, apparently, level State and dry. II
nc scenery is very delightful and fascinatii
oso to cultivated eye and admirer OF yarict
o'' Fall season asserts itself in the variegat'
T. hues of decaying foliage. All many plac
we are reminded of "cattle upon a thou
and hills" reversed, so great is the numbe
Monday morning we arrive at kanS
For CITY, where / stop over day and night.
o oi can't say that admire the appearance n
10 locality, although il has handsomely co
h structed buildings. and thrifty and ente
prisng citizens. / agree with friei
from Chicago who remarked: " can <
scarcely any of the many who press alOl
: the crowded streets who have the full glO
of health" for, after all, health Is esse
'm- tial to happy life. The city is among Il
hills, and We pass up in it on the cable Lii
us. of cars and through to the opposite sid
The general tone of the place woald not
think suit the fancy OF our Eastern pc
MS, pie. Jut across the Missouri is situate
the city of WyandOtte, which we leave (
or Denver and beyond.
o-' This is Kansas, and our direction Ii
Westward through the State, along &
ris, Kansas river for some distance. This sc
ton, am told, is great cattle countr
=. and we see many wind-miils all throuI
n'' the STATE, far away from any residenc
which supplies the cattle with abundan
Tis. of water We come now TO Lawrenc
about 100 miles from Kansas City. which
small, but famous as being the town up
which Quantrell made raid, aud burne
during the late war-Drobably on accOu